Deleting an important video on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that almost every user has faced. A vacation video, a recording of an important event or a work video can disappear in one click: accidentally clicking, a system failure or even malware. Fortunately, in most cases, files can be returned - the main thing is to act quickly and correctly.
Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) use standard storage mechanisms, but also have unique features – for example, an integrated shopping cart in the gallery or integration with the Mi Cloud. In this article, we will analyze all available recovery methods, from basic (check the cart) to advanced (use of PC and specialized software), and also tell you how to avoid irretrievable data loss in the future.
The more important thing is that the faster you start to act, the better the chances of success. When you delete files, they don't disappear from memory instantly, they are marked as "free" and can be overwritten with new data. So don't record new videos, install apps, or update the system until you try to restore them.
1. Checking the basket in the standard MIUI gallery
The first thing you need to do is to look in the gallery basket, and in MIUI firmware (starting with version 12), deleted files are not erased immediately, but are sent to a temporary storage facility where they can stay for up to 30 days, which includes both videos and photos.
How to check the basket:
- 📱 Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
- 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
- 🔍 Scroll through the list and find the video you want. To recover, click on the file and select Restore.
- 📤 The video will return to the original folder (e.g. Camera or Video).
If the cart is empty or the video is not there, then move on to the next method. Note: in some versions of MIUI for POCO, the cart may be called Recently Deleted or hidden in the gallery settings (Settings → Recycle Bin).
⚠️ Note: In older versions MIUI (The cart may not be available until 11th, if you have a phone on Android 9 or lower (e.g. Redmi 5 or Mi). A2), This method won’t work – go to recovery via Mi Cloud or PC.
2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (cloud storage)
If your Xiaomi has enabled sync with Mi Cloud, the chances of returning videos are much higher.The cloud automatically saves copies of media files (provided the feature is activated in the settings), Even if you deleted the video from your phone, it could remain in the cloud.
How to recover video from Mi Cloud:
- 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in with the same account as you do on your phone.
- 📁 On the menu, select the Gallery. → Video.
- 🔍 Find the file you want and download it to your computer or directly to your phone (click on three dots). → Save it to the device).
If the video is not in the main gallery of the cloud, check the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin section – there are files stored for up to 60 days. Note: the free tariff of Mi Cloud provides only 5 GB of storage, so old files could be deleted automatically if you exceed the limit.
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To avoid future data loss, enable automatic gallery sync in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Gallery. We also recommend increasing the volume of the cloud (from 50 GB for 99). ₽/month).
| Conditions | Chance of recovery | Storage period |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI Gallery basket | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Up to 30 days. |
| Mi Cloud (main gallery) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | No restrictions |
| Mi Cloud (basket) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Up to 60 days. |
| Local storage (without basket) | ⭐⭐ | Before the re-recording |
*Subject to payment of the tariff and availability of free space.
3. Use of recovery programs on PC
If you can't find video in the cart and the cloud, you need to plug in your computer, and you need to use specialized software to recover deleted files from internal memory or microSD cards, and they scan the device's memory at the file system level and look for traces of deleted data.
Top.-3 Video recovery software with Xiaomi:
- 🖥️ DiskDigger - Supports FAT32, exFAT and NTFS, It works with most video formats (.mp4,.mov,.avi. There is a free version with limitations.
- 🔧 Recuva is a simple interface, deep scanning, recovery from damaged media.
- 🛠️ EaseUS Data Recovery – a paid solution with a high percentage of successful recovery, supports Xiaomi on Android 10+.
Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:
- 📥 Download and install DiskDigger on PC.
- 🔌 Connect Xiaomi to your computer in File Transfer mode (in the phone notification curtain, select this option).
- 🖱️ Run the program, select a phone drive (or memory card) and press Dig Deep (deep scan).
- ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed (may take 10 minutes to several hours).
- 📂 Check the video found (filter by format.mp4) and click Recover by selecting a folder to save.
Disable synchronization with Mi Cloud|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Use the original USB-cable|Do not connect your phone to other devices during scanning|Save recovered files on PC, not phone-->
⚠️ Note: If the phone is not detected on the PC, check: 🔌 Cable and port USB (Try another cable or port on your computer). 📱 Connection mode in the notification curtain (File transfer, not Charging). 🔒 PC Permissions: Windows may require Xiaomi drivers or ADB. On phones with an unlocked bootloader (for example, after firmware through Fastboot), data recovery may not be possible due to partition encryption. /data.
4.Recovery through root access (for advanced)
If standard methods don't work, and video is critical, you can try rooting and scanning memory at a low level, and this is only suitable for advanced users, because it carries risks:
- 🚨 Loss of warranty (if the phone is under warranty).
- 🔐 Possibility to damage the system in case of incorrect actions.
- 🛡️ Vulnerability to malware (root opens access to system files).
How to recover videos with root access:
- 📲 Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires Xiaomi account and wait) 7-15 days).
- 🔧 Install a custom Recovery (TWRP) You can get rooted through Magisk.
- 💾 Use applications like Undeleter or Hex Editor to scan the partition /data/media/0/DCIM.
This method requires technical skills and is only suitable for phones that are no longer warranty, and it is easier and safer for most users to contact a service center (more on this in the next section).
What to do if the phone is encrypted?
5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If the independent attempts were unsuccessful, and the video is of high value (for example, it is the only recording of an important event), you should contact the official Xiaomi service center.
What you need to know before visiting the service:
- 💰 The cost of restoration starts from 3 000 ₽ and depends on the complexity of the work.
- ⏳ Timeframes - from 1 to 5 working days.
- 📄 Passport and check will be required (if the phone is guaranteed).
- 🔒 In some cases, it may be necessary to unlock the bootloader (this will reset all data!).
The addresses of official Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service. Check by phone before visiting whether they are engaged in data recovery – not all centers provide this service.
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A service center is the last chance to get your data back, but it doesn't guarantee 100% results. The sooner you contact, the higher the probability of success.
6. How to Prevent Future Video Loss
The best way to combat data loss is to prevent it, and here are 5 rules to help avoid repeat incidents:
- 🔄 Automatic backup: Enable sync with Mi Cloud (Settings) → Mi Cloud → Use Google Photos (up to 15 GB free) or Yandex.Disk.
Manual copying:
Careful removal:
Failure protection:
Dr.Web
Kaspersky
Battery and memory:
For Xiaomi owners with a memory card (microSD), we recommend using it as a secondary storage for media files. In the camera settings (Camera Settings → Storage), select a Memory Card so that the videos will not take up space in internal memory, and they will be easier to recover if the system crashes.